Multimeter

[Poeia]

I think I qualify for the OCD portion of that new group based just on my Multimeter obsessive-confusion disorder.

If the manual says the Battery Load Test Function is "To test small batteries. Four (4) ranges: 1.5, 6, 9 and 12 volts." are those specifically the ones it will test or will it be fine with 3.0, 3.6 and 3.7 as well?

 

[ejoker]

the ranges are the max that setting will read. if you're testing a 3.7, use the 6v mark.

 

[DanteInferno]

I think I qualify for the OCD portion of that new group based just on my Multimeter obsessive-confusion disorder.

If the manual says the Battery Load Test Function is "To test small batteries. Four (4) ranges: 1.5, 6, 9 and 12 volts." are those specifically the ones it will test or will it be fine with 3.0, 3.6 and 3.7 as well?

I am not sure which one you have but it should be fine. You want to set it to the next highest setting. For instance, if your battery is between 1.5 and 6 volts you normally set it to the 6v DC setting. Place red to positive and black to negative and see what it reads.

If it blows up (kidding!) I live in Canada...in the mountains...far away from roads and surrounded by woman eating bears!

 

[stevej2k]

To measure a battery under load it is using a resister as a load, the reading would not be accurate for voltages it is not calibrated for.
You could however use your own resister to test. I would imagine you find the resister value and formula you would need using google.

 

[Poeia]

Ejoke and Dante made sense to me. Then steve piped in with piglatin. HUH???

 

[Richie G]

Hello Poeia, dear. =)

A battery load test is an uber-cool function. Do you need it? Nah. But, as Joker stated you would have the ability to load test your PV batteries with it.

What you want is a simple battery test (ie, how much voltage is in the cell), which I'm nearly sure this meter will do for you.

 

[stevej2k]

Sorry, I was a field engineer for Kodak for 20 years before I got into IT. If you just stick a battery on a meter you really aren't going to get an accurate reading of how it performs under load and it really doesn't tell you much. I guess I was being a little more OC than you were ready for.

 

[DanteInferno]

Steve is correct but I think you just want to see what the charge voltage is for the battery to make sure it hasn't over-charged or isn't malfunctioning in which case you can check the battery without a load as described. Fully charged most 3.7v batteries should read in the 3.7 to about 4.2v range when the meter is set on 6v dc setting. It won't shock you or hurt anything to give it a read and see what you get.

 

[Poeia]

Okay. The other thing we have to test periodically is whether the charger is working correctly, right? What function does that.

Steve - with a different background, your avatar would make a good Chuck.

 

[Richie G]

Testing the output of a charger is analogous to testing the voltage of the cells. Same set-up with leads/probes and dial into the same criteria on the meter face. Easy-peasy. =)

 

[stevej2k]

Your new avatar inspired me to use mine. It's from the first season of SNL. It's a Jim Henson muppet called "The Great Favog". I captured it from a dvd so the resolution is very low, otherwise it would be one of the 20 other future Chucks I have in mind.

 

[Poeia]

The hunt is over. I bought an Equus 3310. If you have another $8.01 of stuff you want to buy from Amazon (syringes, needles, teabags, tweezers...) shipping is free which makes it only $2 more than the Cen-Tech at Harbor Freight.

But don't get the 3320 which has colored LEDs instead of numbers for the battery testing. (ETA: or something. I don't understand except that the 3310 is better for our batteries.)

(My $8.01 was a pair of silicone tongs so I can hold my atomizers under really hot water while cleaning. When I hold them in my hand, I have to keep taking "ow" breaks.)

 

[DanteInferno]

Poeia did you figure out how to operate the device and all?

 

[Poeia]

Poeia did you figure out how to operate the device and all?

Don't be silly. Of course not.

I did download the manual and it looks like it's in real, easy-to-follow English. But once it arrives I'm going to need people to tell me which tests to run and what I want the results to be.

 

[DanteInferno]

Just let me know and I will walk you through it. It is very easy and you will be a pro in no time.